Sisyrinchium plant named ‘Sunsisibu’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Sisyrinchium  plant named ‘Sunsisibu’, characterized by its compact and clumping plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely flowering plant habit; long flowering period; light violet blue-colored flowers with purple violet-colored centers and light violet-colored venation; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Sisyrinchium atlanticum.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SUNSISIBU’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Sisyrinchium plant, botanically known as Sisyrinchium atlanticum and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Sunsisibu’.

The new Sisyrinchium plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan. The objective of the breeding program is to develop new freely-flowering Sisyrinchium plants with attractive and unique flower coloration and long flowering period.

The new Sisyrinchium plant originated from a cross-pollination conducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan in May, 2002 of a proprietary selection of Sisyrinchium atlanticum identified as code number SC5, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Sisyrinchium atlanticum identified as code number SC7, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Sisyrinchium plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan in August, 2003.

Asexual reproduction of the new Sisyrinchium plant by divisions in a controlled greenhouse environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan since September, 2003, has shown that the unique features of this new Sisyrinchium plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Sisyrinchium have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Sunsisibu’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Sunsisibu’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Sisyrinchium:

-   -   1. Compact and clumping plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely flowering plant habit.     -   4. Long flowering period.     -   5. Light violet blue-colored flowers with purple violet-colored         centers and light violet-colored venation.     -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Sisyrinchium can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Sisyrinchium differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Sisyrinchium are more freely flowering than         plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Sisyrinchium flower for a longer period of         time than plants of the female parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Sisyrinchium and the female parent         selection differ in flower color as plants of the female parent         selection have ivory-colored flowers with purple-colored         centers.

Plants of the new Sisyrinchium can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Sisyrinchium differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Sisyrinchium are more freely flowering than         plants of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Sisyrinchium flower for a longer period of         time than plants of the male parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Sisyrinchium and the male parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection         have violet blue-colored flowers with purple-colored centers.

Plants of the new Sisyrinchium can also be compared to plants of an unnamed selection of Sisyrinchium angustifolium commonly referred to as Blue-eyed Grass, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, plants of the new Sisyrinchium and Blue-eyed Grass differed primarily in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Sisyrinchium were larger and more vigorous         than plants of Blue-eyed Grass.     -   2. Plants of the new Sisyrinchium had broader leaves than plants         of Blue-eyed Grass.     -   3. Plants of the new Sisyrinchium were more freely flowering         than plants of Blue-eyed Grass.     -   4. Plants of the new Sisyrinchium had larger flowers than plants         of Blue-eyed Grass.     -   5. Plants of the new Sisyrinchium and Blue-eyed Grass differed         in flower color as plants of Blue-eyed Grass had dark         violet-colored flowers with yellow-colored centers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Sisyrinchium, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Sisyrinchium.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Sunsisibu’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of typical flowers of ‘Sunsisibu’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in 15-cm containers in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, under commercial practice during the spring and early summer in an outdoor nursery. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 23° C. and night temperatures averaged 13° C. Plants were six and five months old when the description and photographs, respectively, were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Sisyrinchium atlanticum ‘Sunsisibu’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Sisyrinchium atlanticum identified as code number SC5, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Sisyrinchium atlanticum identified as code number SC7, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By divisions.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About one week at 20° C. to             30° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About two weeks at 10° C. to             20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three             weeks at 20° C. to 30° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four             weeks at 10° C. to 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; moderately dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact and clumping plant habit;             basally branching; vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 27 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 55.3 cm. -   Branch description:     -   -   Length.—Primary branches, about 13.2 cm; secondary branches,             about 8.9 cm.         -   Diameter, primary and secondary branches.—About 1.1 mm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—Upright to somewhat outwardly.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Color.—Close to 146B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Basal or cauline, simple; sessile.         -   Basal leaves.—Length: About 11.8 cm. Width: About 4.6 mm.         -   Upper, or stem, leaves.—Length: About 7.2 cm. Width: About             4.7 mm.         -   Shape, basal and stem leaves.—Lanceolate.         -   Apex, basal and stem leaves.—Acute.         -   Base, basal and stem leaves.—Sheathing.         -   Margin, basal and stem leaves.—Entire.         -   Texture, basal and stem leaves, upper and lower             surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Venation pattern, basal and stem leaves.—Parallel.         -   Color, basal and stem leaves.—Developing leaves, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to 143C. Fully expanded leaves, upper             and lower surfaces: Close to 143C; venation, close to 143D. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Four or five star-shaped             flowers arranged in clusters; freely flowering habit with             usually about 77 flowers developing per plant; flowers face             upright.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Early flowering habit, plants of             the new Sisyrinchium initiate and develop flowers about 13             weeks after planting; long flowering period, flowering             commences naturally during the spring and plants flower             continuously throughout the summer until autumn in Japan.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about one day on             the plant; flowers persistent.         -   Flower cluster height.—About 13.8 cm.         -   Flower cluster diameter.—About 6.2 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 2.3 cm.         -   Flower length (depth).—About 1.1 cm.         -   Flower bud.—Shape: Oblong. Length: About 7.9 mm. Diameter:             About 1.6 mm. Color: Close to 92D.         -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Six segments in a single whorl fused             at the base. Segment length from throat: About 1.2 cm.             Segment width: About 4.5 mm. Segment shape: Ovate. Segment             apex: Cuspidate. Segment margin: Entire. Segment texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Segment color:             When opening, upper surface: Close to 92C; towards the             center, close to 83A to 83B; venation, close to N88C;             center, close to 9B. When opening, lower surface: Close to             69D; towards the base, close to 8C and 145B; venation, close             to 83B. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 92C; towards             the center, close to N81A to N81B; venation, close to N88C;             center, close to 9B. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to             92D; towards the base, close to 8C and 145B; venation, close             to 83B.         -   Spathe bracts.—Quantity: Two per flower. Length: About             3.1 cm. Width: About 2.9 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute.             Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous. Color, immature, upper and lower surfaces: Close             to 143C. Color, mature, upper and lower surfaces: Close to             143C.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 2.8 cm. Diameter: About 0.4 mm.             Angle: Mostly upright. Strength: Strong, wiry. Texture:             Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to N199B to N199C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity/arrangement: Three             per flower; fused. Stamen length: About 1.5 mm. Anther             shape: Globose. Anther size: About 0.7 mm by 1 mm. Anther             color: Close to 17B. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color:             Close to 17B. Pistils: Quantity: One per flower. Pistil             length: About 4.4 mm. Style color: Close to 154C. Stigma             shape: Trifid. Stigma color: Close to 154D. Ovary color:             Close to 144A. Seed/fruit: Seed and fruit development have             not been observed on plants of the new Sisyrinchium. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Sisyrinchium have been     observed to have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, rain     and temperatures ranging from about −5° C. to about 35° C. -   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Sisyrinchium have not     been observed to be resistant to pests and pathogens common to     Sisyrinchium. 

1. A new and distinct Sisyrinchium plant named ‘Sunsisibu’ as illustrated and described. 